Ortitay unopposed on 46th District Republican ballot
A month ago, five men were vying for the chance to run in the November election as their parties’ standard-bearers in the race for the 46th District state House seat. Now the field has narrowed to three, with only one candidate remaining on the Republican side in the May 20 primary.
The Washington County elections office was notified last week that Republican Brian Coppola of Bulger, former Robinson Township supervisor, intended to mount a court challenge against the nominating petitions filed by Jason Ortitay of South Fayette Township, a cheesecake baker. The matter was scheduled to be heard by Commonwealth Court in Pittsburgh April 7, and Coppola’s attorney sought information on the voter registration status of Ortitay’s petition signers from the Washington County elections office.
At the last minute, the hearing was canceled because Coppola withdrew his objections, and Commonwealth Court ordered that Ortitay’s name must remain on the Republican ballot.
The next day, Jessica Mathis, chief of the Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation in Harrisburg, sent an email to elections directors in Washington, Greene and Beaver counties, advising them that Coppola was out of the Republican race because of court action he initiated to remove himself from the ballot.
The 46th District no longer includes parts of Beaver County and has never included Greene County. The email was not sent to Allegheny County, where about half of the redrawn 46th District lies.
“They notified the wrong county,” said Mark Wolosik, manager of the Allegheny County Elections Division. “We learned about it because people called.”
The grapevine apparently was alive with talk that Coppola had dropped out of the race.
Meanwhile, Allegheny County, but not Washington County, learned that Burgettstown attorney Paul J. Walsh had officially withdrawn from the race on the Democratic ballot.
“He (Walsh) came to the office this past Monday or Tuesday and had an affidavit prepared, in lieu of a hearing, (stating) that ballots had not yet been printed (in Allegheny County)” and requesting that his name not be included, Wolosik said Wednesday.
“I looked at it, made some modifications, and signed it. Then he came back and said the court had just granted his withdrawal.”
Filing on Walsh’s behalf in Commonwealth Court was Reizdan B. Moore, parliamentarian for the House of Representatives for more than 28 years and chief counsel of the House Democratic Caucus for 18 years.
Meanwhile, Larry Spahr, Washington County elections director, was hoping to receive information from Harrisburg Wednesday afternoon on the status of Walsh’s candidacy.
“We don’t do anything until we’re officially notified,” Spahr said. “We’ll see how they follow up.”
The Pennsylvania Department of State’s lengthy candidate database lists both Coppola and Walsh as having withdrawn from their respective races.
“We do have to wait until we get it from the court,” said Ron Ruman, spokesman for the Department of State in Harrisburg Wednesday afternoon. “They were both per curiam orders by Commonwealth Court.”
Walsh announced last week he intended to withdraw from the Democratic race and threw his support to Cecil Township Supervisor Tom Casciola, who is now the sole challenger on the Democratic ballot to incumbent state Rep. Jesse White, also a Cecil Township resident.